title: Structure and function of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor in steroidogenic cells.
abstract: Steroidogenesis depends on the rate of cholesterol transport from intracellular stores to the inner mitochondrial membrane cytochrome P-450 side-chain cleavage enzyme. Using steroidogenic cell submitochondrial fractions, mitochondrial preparations, various cell models, and animal models and with the help of pharmacological, biochemical, morphological, and molecular approaches, we provide evidence that the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor mediates the intramitochondrial cholesterol transport and the subsequent adrenal, gonadal, placental, and brain steroid biosynthesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Pharmacology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20007, USA. papadopv@gunet.georgetown.edu
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000502:physiology; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D008024:Ligands; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013256:Steroids; C069997:Tspo protein, rat; D002784:Cholesterol; D000242:Cyclic AMP